Florida, Famous for Wellington Strawberries and Horses

National Horse Show at the Wellington Equestrian Club in 2006. | Source

Wellington is near West Palm Beach and the Everglades, but has plenty of attractions of its own that excite families who come to visit. Among the things to enjoy are a famous strawberry patch, famous horses, and a famous peanut.

The city supports a growing equestrian community that seems taking over the community. Meanwhile, city leaders have facilitated an expanding medical center, the influx of new small businesses, construction of a new hotel, and even a new college near the hospital and local mall. This would be a great place to work and raise a family!

Rocketing Growth 2010 - 2020

Highways and streets can expect improvements as traffic congestion is a target for elimination in a greener way to facilitate ongoing growth. City trails, canals, and lakes add to a sustainability push and natural conservation as well as tourist attractions.

This is the Wellington Medical Arts District that covers around 2,300,000 million square feet of commercial space. In addition, a new industrial center is going up beside Lake Okeechobee.

The huge Florida Crystals commercial property, 850 acres, is to have an inland port, according to county commissioners, with a cargo distribution center, warehouses, and related businesses, along with well maintained rail lines and highways connecting eastern/southeastern Florida coastal towns.

From Autumn 2010 to Spring 2015, 15,000 to 20,000 jobs were available in and around Wellington, with emerging jobs from:

Equestrian businesses,

The new medical arts district, and

A new inland port planed for the late 2010s.

Sustainable Medical District

The Medical Arts District covers 2,000,000 square feet in a 210-acre campus that features a hospital, and education, office, medical-related, and retail venues. At least 6,000 jobs will be created from 2016 - 2018.

Flying Cows and Strawberries

Flying Cow Ranch Strawberry Farm

From its early beginnings as a widespread strawberry farm on 18,000 acres of Florida swampland, Wellington has grown to become the 76th Best Place to Live in America, among the Top 100 chosen by Money.com in 2010.

Wellington is also an equestrian community, with as many horses on its roads as automobiles. One of its major businesses is the world's largest horse show each winter, which operates from the end of January to mid-March.

Polo, jumping class, and dressage are important elements of everyday Wellington life.

Endangered Cats in Wellington

The Wellington market area supports two large endangered big-cat sanctuaries:

Panther Ridge Conservation Center, and

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge, an official part of the US Wildlife Refuge System

Both of these sanctuaries help to protect and promote Florida panthers and black panthers, along with other big cats. A rarity even in Southern Florida, the state's namesake cat can be viewed by visitors to the refuges as they learn more about the elusive felines. Before the sanctuaries became popular, the only views most Americans had of the cat came from wildlife "camera-traps" that snapped the panthers as they walked past.

Florida Panther | Source

Panther Ridge Sanctuary

Panther Ridge, began at home in 1993 and opened in 1999 as a non-profit animal conservation facility caring long-term for endangered big cats. However, small cats and horses are happy here as well.

Founder Judy Berens has rescued all kids of cats and horses from bad situations and placed them in natural habitats. By 2008, she had a 10-acre estate full of two dozen examples of the most endangered species on Earth to date. This includes bobcats, caracals, cheetahs, leopards, jaguars, panthers, ocelots, and servals, along with house cats and horses.

Judy found that one of her recuse big cat was dumped outside a pet shop. Another was rescued from Hurricane Katrina, others from the circus. They are all here, living in peace.

Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge is in the US National Wildlife Refuge System, in SW Florida, twenty miles east of Naples and west of Wellington. It is certainly worth the planning to visit and possibly see the panthers in natural habitats. This is a clearly written book with many high quality photos of big cats in the area.

Exciting Wellington Attractions

Palm trees. | Source

Incorporated in 1995, Wellington grew quickly, drawing new families to the coastal area and international visitors to its horse shows that feature the National Horse Show and Winter Equestrian Festival.

Why does Florida have so many horses and horse activities? The Spanish explorers of the 1500s brought the equines into Florida and the rest of what became Southern USA and the animals proliferated. Herds of descendant wild horses are still found in Texas and the Far West.

Polo activities also attract international attention. Wellington leaders plan for it to become a premier World Class Equestrian Community and the largest in the United States.

Wellington also has a large renovated library, recreation centers, green spaces, parks, and ball fields, hosting the Top Gun Model Aircraft Show annually.

Entertainment and cultural events abound as well at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts and Norton Museum of Art. The super-regional The Mall at Wellington Green is a retail hub and target for additional growth alongside a medical center complex.

Polo MuseumThe Museum of Polo and Hall of Fame is a not-for-profit educational organization dedicated to fostering an appreciation of the development of the game by collecting, preserving, exhibiting and interpreting its collections.

Norton Museum of Art Home PageThe Norton Museum of Art is a major cultural attraction in Florida. The Museum is internationally known for its distinguished permanent collection featuring 19th and 20th century European and American art, Chinese, contemporary art and photography. F

SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR AND EXPO CENTERThe annual South Florida Fair is Florida's top rated fair and it's 17 outrageously fun days in January. The Fairgrounds attracts 1.2 million visitors annually since 1912. Yesteryear Village and local Museum.

A Historic Park on an Island

This island off Palm Beach was renamed Peanut Island for a failed peanut oil-shipping business here at the end of WWII.

A US Federal Government renovation in 2005 provided Peanut Island Park to the community. The park offers camping, a pier, and a reef, but also still has the nuclear blast shelter built by order of President John F. Kennedy in 1960.

The bomb shelter is operated as a museum and historic site by the Palm Beach Maritime Museum, open to visitors to see the Cold War-era installation. Peanut Island requires water travel from the mainland by boat or water taxi.

The Palm Beach Maritime Museum and the historic John F. Kennedy Bunker on Peanut Island are available for tours by calling (561) 832-7428. Camping is also available.

Peanut Island at Night | Source

Business and Jobs

Aerospace Business Increases Jobs through 2020

Florida has long enjoyed a Space Coast Image. B/E Aerospace in Wellington is an aircraft cabin interior manufacturer and the leading distributor of aerospace fasteners and consumables globally.

The company's 3rd QTR 2010 financial results surpassed goals and continued to rise into 2015. The company reported revenues of $495 Million in 3rd QTR 2010, an increase of 7.7% over the same period of 2009. This additional $35.2 Million came from consumables, management, and commercial aircraft products. Free cash flow was $62.8 Million.

Economic Growth Since 2008

Sustainability and green projects have enhanced Wellington neighborhoods under ARRA stimulus funding, notably with the Wellington Green Park opening in October 2010. A State Department of Forestry grant allowed reforestation and the boosting of local nurseries and landscapers as well. Wellington is applying stimulus money to creating a renewed treescape of native Florida trees.

Wellington supports its international equestrian community with nearly 60 miles of bike/hike/horse trails already. Expanding the trail system, adding additional equestrian events and businesses, and drawing new professionals in this industry will create a year-round World Class Equestrian Community. Riding stables, horse farms, equestrian shows known the world over, and horse-related children’s activities increase yearly according to city plans.

Most of the 15,000 to 20,000 usually advertised jobs found for Wellington are available in Wellington, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Boynton Beach, Delray Beach, and Jupiter FL.

Top 10 Hot Jobs

Retail Sales Associates

Elementary School Teachers and Tutors

Registered Nurse (RNs) - particularly in the nursing specialties of Medical Telemetry, Medical Surgical, and Travel Nursing. The ongoing expansion of the Wellington Medical Arts District mentioned above will increase demand even further for nurses and physical and occupational therapists.

Comments

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Support Med. 6 years agofrom Michigan

You give the best info on where to get the jobs. It's great for people who are looking to relocate as well. Voted and rated.

Garrett Mickley 6 years agofrom Jupiter, Florida

I live in Jupiter, Florida!

PierrePierre 6 years ago

Another very useful hub! Thank you.

India Arnold 6 years agofrom Northern, California

I am a huge big cat fan! I have had the joy of photographing many of these beautiful creatures over the years. The Wellington Panther Ridge Santuary looks like a place I could stay for days. Outstanding images, perfect information and an impressive layout. Good stuff here!